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My big trip to CT from FL is beginning this weekend and I am a little nervous. I guess I just need some words of encouragement and advise from anyone else who has made the trip. I am looking at the weather forecast and apparently they are expecting the cold weather to be back by the end if this week. I have never driven the tesla in freezing weather so there's that, and I am also a little concerned about having 12v battery issues or a flat tire. These wouldn't be things I would normally consider but this is not a normal car. I have the tire repair and inflator kit I bought from Tesla, and am planning on bringing a battery charger/compressor unit which actually has a car battery in it, however, I wonder if there are other things I should consider. On another post I tried to get help identifying hotels which have chargers, but no successes. I do have a chargepoint account so I'll use that for reference for now, but I guess if anyone has an idea of good locations to stop in the NC/VA border, please let me know. Lastly, does anybody think that calling tesla and letting them know that I'm taking this trip would help in any way? At minimum maybe they could tell me if there are issues with the supercharging stations on my route? Actually, is there something available which would let me know the avaialbility of superchargers?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks again!

church70 | March 11, 2014

I am in Florida right now in Orlando from Toronto I had no problems with the supercharge stations except for the Easter egg game I had to play with some of them i'm not sure why but there's no signs like you would see at fast food restaurants gas station hotels if nobody else is there you will go very fast 400 miles an hour. I was a bit nervous before I left as well but it's all good enjoy

church70 | March 11, 2014

I am in Florida right now in Orlando from Toronto I had no problems with the supercharge stations except for the Easter egg game I had to play with some of them i'm not sure why but there's no signs like you would see at fast food restaurants gas station hotels if nobody else is there you will go very fast 400 miles an hour. I was a bit nervous before I left as well but it's all good enjoy

church70 | March 11, 2014

I am in Florida right now in Orlando from Toronto I had no problems with the supercharge stations except for the Easter egg game I had to play with some of them i'm not sure why but there's no signs like you would see at fast food restaurants gas station hotels if nobody else is there you will go very fast 400 miles an hour. I was a bit nervous before I left as well but it's all good enjoy

church70 | March 11, 2014

I am in Florida right now in Orlando from Toronto I had no problems with the supercharge stations except for the Easter egg game I had to play with some of them i'm not sure why but there's no signs like you would see at fast food restaurants gas station hotels if nobody else is there you will go very fast 400 miles an hour. I was a bit nervous before I left as well but it's all good enjoy

Brian H | March 11, 2014

I advise you that that noun is spelled "advice". Really.

Definitely discuss with TM. They both want and offer advice.

mumanoff | March 12, 2014

Relax and enjoy. There are SCs and use Plugshare App in case it is needed. Saved my ass in a jam on a Sunday night at 10 PM. Enjoy the trip.

hamer | March 12, 2014

@Boca Steve: You should have little trouble if you drive conservatively, keep the energy app on average over 30 miles, keep an eye on the projected range, and slow down if your projected range appears to be getting uncomfortably close to the distance to the next Supercharger.

Try to minimize use of the heat if it is cold; the seat heaters use much less juice.

You don't say from where in Florida you're starting, but the two longest distance between Supercharger is probably between the northernmost Florida and Savannah Superchargers. Don't pass up a Supercharger, and when you get to Washington, go around 495 on the west so you can stop in Bethesda at the Supercharger to charge.

Driving conservatively means accelerate slowly, keeping it on cruise control as much as you can, watch the projected range and keep checking the distance to the next Supercharger. There seems to be about a 10% penalty in usage for each 10 MPH over 55, and once the car is warmed up, even in cold weather, it shouldn't use more than about 10% more than it would if the temperature were warmer. In December I drove from NC to Northern Virginia with the temperatures in the teens and probably averaged about 300 Wh/mile once everything was warmed up. And if you stop overnight and it is cold, keep it plugged in and before you preheat the car while it is still plugged in.

hfcolvin | March 12, 2014

If you're driving through NJ on the turnpike, shoot the bird to Christie and his cronies.

There are useful tips about several of the Superchargers you will be using. If you discover any information about the Superchargers on your journey, please comment so I can add it to the list.

I live in Boynton Beach. Personally, I have only gone as far as the Port Orange Supercharger so I can't give any direct advice about the points North of that. However, I can tell you I drove in cold (for Florida) rainy weather at a brisk pace between Port St. Lucie and Port Orange and used 190 rated miles for the 136 mile actual distance. Both locations were easy to find and had plenty of open stalls.

Michael_Bluth | March 12, 2014

There is a supercharger in Rocky Mount, NC (a few miles south of the VA border) and a real nice Country Inn there if you need to stay over night. If you then hit the superchargers in Glen Allen, VA and Bethesda, MD, you should be fine the rest of the way (aside from traffic delays).

wcalvin | March 12, 2014

The range increase (or decrease) is 50 miles for a 10 mph decrease (increase) in speed. But that's full tank range; if you don't slow down 10 mph until half empty, you only get 25 miles additional range.

I'm still trying to find out if ANYONE has dared to put their Tesla on the AutoTrain from Florida to the DC area. It worked fine over the years with my Benz, but I'm fearful of entrusting my MS to the tender hands of Amtrak. It's a very long drive from Naples to DC for an old guy like me.

Brian H | March 13, 2014

You still haven't taken my advice. I advise you to.

Duffer | March 13, 2014

@fred -- the Tesla is too long for the AutoTrain. I checked into this last year. It's also too wide unless the mirrors are folded, but definitely too long (I didn't buy the folding bumpers option).

church70 | March 13, 2014

You're welcome I'm headed back tomorrow or early Saturday morning maybe I'll see you along the way

mcfadyena | March 14, 2014

Made it down this week from Campbellford, Ontario to Myrtle Beach, SC. No issues, no problems. Superchargers were great. Ride was smooth.

Enjoy your trip!

jordanrichard | March 14, 2014

rdloftin 1, who told you it was too long. The car is 16ft long. I just checked the Autotrain website and there is no length restriction. There is width restriction of 84 inches, so yes the mirrors would have to be fold, which then give the MS a width of 77 inches.

edfinn | March 14, 2014

@Boca Steve -- I live in NJ in the shadow of New York and drove to Miami Beach and back in an MS 85 last month. There was no problem. I charged at Superchargers all the way (except in Miami Beach, where the municipal parking at 13th and Collins offered Chargepoint). ANyway, you have nothing to worry about. The Superchargers are well placed, and well within range. The longest haul is probably St AUgustine to Savannah, and the Savannah Supercharger is sort of tucked away in the North parking building at the Savannah Airport. Follow the signs to parking and go through the first parking building its on the left as you enter the second. They will validate the parking ticked inside the terminal so you dont have to pay the $2. I stayed at Santee SC on the way north. Clarks Motel is an old independent hotel and where the Supercharger is located. We stayed there as it was a long day to get there, and to thank them for putting in the Supercharger. There is a supercharger in Rocky Mount NC, which is close to teh NC/VA line. There are hotels nearby I believe. The Supercharger in Maryland in in a very busy mall. Try not to get there on a weekend afternoon. Both Superchargers and teh HPWC's wer full, along with a couple of 220 wall outlets on a Synday afternoon when we were there. If that happens to you, go in the mall to the Tesla store, and they will probably juggle around their demo car to give you a plug. They did for me. I wrote about my trip in this forum in early february, you can get my comments on all of the stops.
Have a great trip. There is nothing to worry about as far as range goes. It was very cold for parts of my trip (and rainy for others), which affected range, but not so much as to cause any real worry.
Good luck.

bfranks273 | March 14, 2014

Good luck, you'll be fine. Maybe keep us up on location, might be able to come say hi at one of those places.

hfcolvin | March 14, 2014

@fredtowers - check tesla motor club site. There is a thread with pics of an owner who used the auto train. I think it might be in the Mid Atlantic Forum.

Found it! Here you go, thread is about a road trip but there are a couple of posts about the auto train:

Taking the AutoTrain in a few weeks. Works fine with Model S. I know a friend who done it for twice round trip with his Model S. We are driving back then from Clearwater up to Wash DC. Looking forward to that !

Brian H | March 14, 2014

Unloading:

demetri | March 15, 2014

I did the trip two weeks ago in my 60, no problem! From Weston CT to Vero Beach FL 1,250 miles. Used all 10 supercharger stops, just keep it under 75. Most of the terrain is flat so you don't loose your buffer if you drive 55-65 with no hard acceleration. I charged with 40 mile buffer and drove as high as 80 between the closer ones and arrived to the next SC with 10-30 miles left. Savannah to St. Augustine FL is 175 miles and my car only charges to 200 miles now, 23k miles on it. I was able to drive 65-70 and make it with 10 miles left, just keep looking at the buffer amount and make sure it stays above what the navi says the distance is to the next SC.
Be careful coming out of Savannah airport the navi took us on a 7 mile loop to get on 95 again, just look at the map and go back the same way you came in. Also when you get there get your parking ticket validated at main information desk, just show them your key fob. If you need any more info, I can provide it.
If you are doing it in an 85 you have absolutely nothing to worry about. You can even skip a few SC's at least Glenn Allen VA to Newark DE and not stop in Bethesda.

Boca Steve | March 17, 2014

You guys are the best! Really appreciate the comments.

Unfortunately my big trip had to be cancelled due to a medical issue. Very disappointed to say the least. I guess I'll try again in the sumer.

@BrianH, is that a picture of your Tesla being unloaded? Seems fine to me. I can't imagine the car being too wide or long for the Autotrain.

Brian H | March 17, 2014

No. That's just a pic of the Autotrain in action.

Gadfly | March 23, 2014

Learn to spell "advice".

bduke | March 26, 2014

mcfadyena: I traveled from CT to Myrtle Beach and the trip was great its my stay in Myrtle that sucks. There is ONE J1772 charger in Myrtle and North Myrtle Beach and it doesn't work and no one knows who is supposed to fix it or take care of it. I just wrote the mayor and council members. mcfadyena where did you charge? I ended up going to Conway twice to charge and then make the 20 mile return trip.